by Colin Stief
http://cargocollective.com/colinstief
The interior and the exterior rely on each other for definition. It is the realization of this boundary that provides us a space of retreat from the vast periphery. However, as construction, communication and transportation technologies advance, our understanding of physical boundaries diminishes. Our interiority, created by the line between interior and exterior, near and far, the known and unknown, is reaching a point of incomprehension.
Rose Island, a 17 acre patch of land within the Narragansett Bay was developed to protect the country from what lies beyond the horizon. The island’s abandoned, military fortifications built from the Revolutionary War to WWII provide a reminder of the necessity of shelter in both times of war and peace. The issues of architecture are exaggerated: walls not only protect from the
elements, but need to hold up under cannon fire; joints are no longer just water tight, but need to shield the interior from fire and gas. The separation between interior and exterior becomes necessary for survival.
This thesis investigates the perception of boundaries. My interventions take place in the in-between; at thresholds, windows, and between a person and the ground. The narrowing of views and movement to the interior provides a range of experiences, revealing specificities and creating a place of retreat within Rose Island and its bomb proof barracks.
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